Undergarment.



H. A. CARTER.

uNDsnmlvuinl. APPLICATIONHL'ED A UG.25. 1916.

Patented .Dec. 12, 1916.

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UNDERGARMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Application led August 25, 1916. Serial No. 116,930.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HORACE A. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Needham Heights, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Undergarments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to undergarments, which may be either of the union undergarment type or may be of the nether garment type. rIhe garment is particularly intended for use by males.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a union undergarment embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain gussets which may be and are preferably used in the formation of the garment; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but representing said gussets as inserted in the garment.

While I have selected for the purpose of illustration a union undergarment, it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to nether garments.

While preferably the garment is a knitted one, obviously my invention may, in its broad aspect, be applied to a garment of woven or other suitable material.

'While the undergarment may be fashioned in any suitable manner, I preferably, and particularly in the case of a union undergarment, form the same with a body portion 1, arms 2, 2, integral therewith, and leg portions 3, 3 also integral therewith.

I have represented the garment as having an opening 4 in the front, extending from the neck opening 5 substantially to the crotch portion of the garment.

My invention may be applied to a union undergarment of the drop seat, the closed crotch, or other type.

In the ensuing description the terms right and left will be used in describing the portions of the garment with reference to the wearer, and not the observer.

In order to provide the proper fullness across the hips or thighs, and in order also to furnisha suitable opening at the back, if the garment be of the type herein illusn trated, I preferably provide two gusset portions, respectively indicated at 6, 7 in Figs. 3 and 4, the gusset 6 being herein desig* nated as the left-hand gusset because in practice the greater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the left-hand leg of the garment, and the gusset 7 being termed the right-hand gusset inasmuch as the greater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the right-hand leg of the garment. If the garment be a knitted one, which is in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, the knitted wales extend longitudinally of the body, arms and legs, and also extend longitudinally of the gussets 6,7. The lateral edges 8, 9, 10, 11 of the gussets are preferably cut upon curved lines, which converge toward each other. Each gusset has a square upper end 12, 13, which in the garment are lapped past each other and secured to the body of the garment at the rear, as indicated in Fig. 2. rIhe edge 9 of the gusset 6 and the edge 10 of the gusset 7 constitute the free edges of the garment at the rear. edge 11 of the gusset 7 which as previously described are preferably cut upon curved lines, are seamed to straight edges of the body portion of the garment, thus giving The edge 8 of the gusset 6 and the increased width across the hips and thighs of the wearer.

The garment embodying my invention is preferably, though not necessarily, of the closed crotch type, and in the formation of the gussets 6, 7 and in the application4 thereof to the garment I preferably provide each gusset 6, 7, with two gores, numbered respectively 14, 15, 16 and 17. The gore 14 of the left-hand gusset 6 constitutes a thighwidening gore, and is attached along both its edges to the inside sea-m of the left leg, I

thus enlarging the diameter of the upper portion of that leg, and the gore 15 of the said left gusset constitutes in effect a suspensory-forming gore. The said gore 15 is carried over and attached to the inside seam of the right leg just below or at the crotch, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. As indicated most clearly in Fig. 3, the Said gore 6 is provided with a widened extremity 18 which is seamed along its extent as described to the inside seam of the right leg. The gore 17 of the right gusset 7 is seamed along both its edges to the inside seam of the right leg, thus enlarging the vdiameter of the upper portion of the leg,

gores 15, 16 of the gussets 6 and 7 differY slightly in shape, the gore 15 being broadened at its lower edge. If desired, however,

and within the scope of my invention, the.

two gores may be duplicates of each other. The gores 15 and 16 are, in the complete garment, superimposed the one upon the other. Viewing Figs. 1 and 5, it will be observed that both of the suspensory-forming gores 15, 16 are positioned wholly at one and the same side of the axial line of the crotch, which may be defined as the median line of the garment or the ,front opening 4. The upper ends of the said gores 15, 16 are superposed as described, and are secured to the upper edges of the legs wholly at one side of the said axial crotch line.

An important purpose of carrying the gores 15, 16 past each other and securing them to the upper portions of the inside seams of the opposite legs is to provide a suspensory or support for the organs.

While my invention pertains and relates Y particularly to and is embodied and comprehended in a garment'having the characteristics hereinbefore described, I am not limited thereto inasmuch as for certain purposes the body-adjusting strips hereinafter referred to may be employed upon other types of undergarments. The said strips, however, peculiarly coperate with a garment of the type described, that is, one wherein I have provided two gussets, each having gores suchas 15 and 16, since the said strips when applied to the garment may be drawn up or adjusted so as to fit the wearer snugly, and if the garment be one wherein thegussets may act as a suspensory, the garment ymore suitably performs such function.' f

My invention also comprehends the employment of suitable body-adjusting strips or tapes, secured to the leg portions preferably adjacent to the crotch portion of the garment at the front thereof and preferably, though not necessarily to the outside, and extending generally -transversely of the garment. I have herein represented the said strips or tapes in Figs. 1 and 2 at 19, 19, they being seamed or otherwise suitably secured as indicated at 20, 20 transversely across and to the leg portions of the garment at the right and left of said gores and preferably in proximity to the crotch portion. While I have shown the said strips las attached along a curved line, it is apparent V:that they may be attached in any suitable -n'rannerV and along any suitable extent thereof tothe leg portions of the garment for the purpose stated. The strips may .be

of any suitable material, and each is here shown as a woven band or tape having free ends. W'ithin the scope and purpose of my invention, I may employ strips or tapes that may be attached to the garment at the rear or sides thereof or at any other suitable point or points. Each may, intermediate its point of attachment adjacent the crotch and its point or points of attachment above the crotch, be provided with adjusting means by which it may be increased or shortened in length. This may be accomplished by providing buckles or other takee up means, and if desired, but not preferably, the strip or tape may be of or may contain elastic material. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, however, I provide a coperating strip or strips, secured to the garment above the crotch portion thereof, and having depending portions for attachment to the pocket forming strips 19, 19.

fhile the coperating strip or strips may be secured to any suitable portion of the garment and may be of any suitable character, I have herein represented two strips 21, 22 respectively attached to the rear of the garment at 23, 24, at substantially the upper end of the gussets 6, 7.

The coperating strip or strips, herein represented as the strips 21, 22, may, as previously stated, be secured to any suitable part of the garment, but by securing them to the back or sides of the garment and providing depending portions, the organ-supporting pocket which is provided by the gores 15, 16 is preserved when the wearer is in a seated position with his body relaxed if the garment be properly adjusted as to height. If the coperating tape or tapes were secured to the front of the garment there might be a tendency of the strips 19, 19 when the wearer is seated and his body is relaxed, to so position themselves as partially to 'destroy the eifeetiveness of the fit. It is, however, to be understood that the cooperating strips may be secured to any suitable portion of the garment and within the broader aspect of my invention I may, in certain cases, dispense with the coperating strip or strips and otherwise attach the strips 19, 19as for example by making the same of suiiicient length to permit them to be passed about the waist of the wearer and suitably tied together at their free ends. The strips or tapes 19, 19 constitute a body adjustment. That is to say, if the body portion of the garment be found not to fit the wearer perfectly but to be somewhat too long, they may be drawn up to lit the wearer snugly by drawing upon-the ends of the tapes 19, 19 and conversely, if the body be somewhat too short, then by loosening the strips or tapes 19, 19, they may be somewhat lengthened. Thus the gores 15, 16 may be caused to fit the wearer perfectly.

lVithin the scope of my invention the strips or tapes or other supporting means, may be secured either to the inside or to the outside of the garment.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following` claims.

Claims:

l. An undergarment having lower trunk, crotch and leg portions and trunk adjusting strips or tapes secured to the leg portions of the garment at the front thereof adjacent to the crotch portion and extending transversely of said garment and having opposed securing portions, by lmeans of Which the trunk portion of the garment may be adjusted to the proper height.

2. An undergarment having lower trunk, crotch and leg portions and one or more gusset portions at the crotch of the garment and a pair of trunk adjusting strips or tapes secured respectively to the leg portions adjacent the crotch portion of the garment at the front thereof and extending transversely of the garment and having opposed securing portions by means of Which the trunk portion 0f the garment may be adjusted t the proper height.

3. An undergarment having lower trunk, crotch and leg portions and gussets 6, 7 at the/crotch of the garment and provided with gores l5, 16 and trunk adjusting strips or tapes 19, 19 secured to the leg portions adjacent the crotch portion of the garment at the front of and extending transversely of the garment and having opposed securing portions by means of Which the trunk portion of the garment may be adjusted to the proper height.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specification.

HORACE A. CARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. C. 

